Plasmonic metal nanoparticles – including gold, silver, and platinum – are highly efficient at absorbing and scattering light. By adjusting the nanoparticle size, shape, and composition, the color can be tuned from the ultraviolet through the visible to the near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Gold nanoparticles are ruby red and silver nanoparticles are a vibrant yellow. Plasmonic particles with other shapes have even broader color tenability. Additionally, the plasmonic nanoparticles can be engineered to be extremely strong absorbers (e.g. efficiently convert light to heat for photothermal therapies) and also very efficient scatters (e.g. for biodiagnostics).

How We Can Help

NanoComposix has one of the world’s largest libraries of plasmonic nanoparticles across a broad range of sizes, shapes, surfaces and materials. Each nanoparticle is provided with a specification sheet that correlates the particle geometry to the optical spectra. Plasmonic particles can be surface functionalized for integration into a wide variety of solvents and coatings. By attaching an antibody or other targeting agent to the particle surface, the plasmonic nanoparticles can be used for nanomedicine and diagnostic applications. Core/shell plasmonic structures combine the benefits of the plasmon resonance with fluorescent and magnetic functionality.